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At a meeting of the First Congregational Church in Dartmouth, 
August 25th, 1841 — 

Resolved, That the thanks of this Church be returned to the Rev. 
AsAHEL BiGELow for his very able and appropriate Sermon, delivered 
at the ordination of the Rev. Andrew Bigelow in that place, and 
that a copy be requested for publication — Upon motion, 

Resolved, That T. Thomas and I. C. Thacher, be a Committee to 
communicate this Resolution to the Rev. Asahel Bigelow. 



Rev. Asahel Bigelow, 

Dear Sir — We take pleasure in communicating the enclosed 
Resolution, and to express our desire that you will comply with the 
request of the Church — hoping that when published it will be bene- 
ficial and useful to the community at large. 

Very Respectfully, your obedient servants, 
THACHER THOMAS, 



ER^ 

South Dartmouth, August 25th, 1S41. 



ISAIAH C. THACHER ' <^^^^^^^^- 



iVIessrs. Thomas and Thacher, 

Dear Brethren — Your official communication, embodying a 
jResolution of the Church in this place, and requesting a copy of a 
Sermon, preached at the Ordination of^ my brother, was received 
last evening. 

The Sermon was not designed for the press, but if, in your estima- 
tion it will be beneficial to yourselves or others in advancing the 
great interest of the Church, I cannot refuse a compliance with your 
request; a copy therefore, will be committed to your disposal. 

Yours Respectfully, 

ASAHEL BIGELOW. 

Dartmouth, Aug. 26th, 1841. 



SERMON. 



EPHESIANS iv: 13. 

" Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge 
of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the 
stature of the fulness of Christ." 

The present life is a state of imperfection. Scarcely 
any thing in human affairs has reached a point beyond 
which there can be no improvement. Inventions and 
discoveries are almost daily made in the arts and sci- 
ences. The principles of government and their various 
apphcations, are undergoing important changes. In- 
tercourse among the nations, and between different 
parts of the same nation, is rapidly increasing. Civili- 
zation is on the advance ; and the world is expecting a 
brighter, happier period than it has ever enjoyed. And 
there is something with respect to divine institutions 
corresponding with this progress in human affairs. The 
former dispensation, compared with the gospel, was 
quite imperfect. '' For even that which was made glo- 
rious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the 
glory that exceJleth." Nor is all perfection even under 
the gospel. They who enjoy its richest blessings and 
are most fully under its enlightening, redeeming influ- 
ences, are looking forward to a better state. " For the 



earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the man- 
ifestation of the sons of God." Christians individually 
have not attained, and the church as a body is not 
already perfect. For the Apostle speaks in the name 
of the Church, " Till we all come in the unity of the 
faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God unto a 
perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the ful- 
ness of Christ." This imphes that the Church is yet to 
be perfected. Accordingly your attention is invited to 
some particulars in which, and to the means by which, 
the Church is yet to be perfected. 

With respect to religious knowledge the Church is 
yet to be perfected. She comes far short of a thorough 
understanding of the gospel in all its truths, bearings, 
and relations, and is yet to make important advances in 
the knowledge of spiritual things. This is implied in 
the text. Till we all come in the unity of the faith 
and of the knowledge of the Son of God unto a perfect 
man. The knowledge of the Son of God, or of Christ, 
is knowledge of what he revealed respecting his own 
character, office, and work as Saviour ; the character, 
government, and will of God ; the character and duty 
of man ; the immortality of the soul and eternal retri- 
bution ; in short, all the truths connected with the gos- 
pel. The knowledge which christians have of these 
truths is in no case perfect during the present life. 
Every one, at all acquainted with himself, is sensible of 
this. The more one studies and understands the gos- 
pel, the more conscious is he of ignorance respecting 
it. For, every time he comes to the investigation of it, 
new truths, or new views of the same truths, present 
themselves, so that he is led more and more to admire 
the depth of its riches and wisdom. And if there are 
those who imagine their knowledge of the gospel com- 
plete, it is they whose religious information is quite 



limited. They are like one who, viewing a landscape 
at a distance, thinks he has a perfect perception of it. 
But let him approach, enter upon, and attempt to sur- 
vey it, and he is soon convinced that his first impres- 
sions were very incomplete. And if they, who imagine 
their religious knowledge perfect, should commence a 
thorough investigation of the gospel, they w^ould soon 
find themselves in a field of which they could see no 
limits ; and would be disposed to say with the chief of 
the Apostles, "Now we see through a glass darkly," 
*'Now we know in part." But the time shall come 
when christians shall see face to face, and know even as 
they are known. They shall grow in grace and in the 
knoivledge of the Lord till, with respect to knowledge, 
they shall be perfect men, possessing correct views of 
the gospel in all its parts and relations. 

As a consequence of this perfection in knowledge 
christians will have completeness, unity, of faith. The 
reason why they are not now one in rehgious belief is, 
that their religious knowledge is imperfect. None have 
a full perception of the truths of the gospel in all their 
connexions, and bearings. But the knowledge of some 
is more complete than that of others. These difierent 
degrees of knowledge in difierent individuals, and this 
imperfection of knowledge in the case of all, are neces- 
sarily the occasion of more or less difierence with 
respect to rehgious behef. But, when the knowledge 
of all shall be complete, they will alike see and beheve 
the truths of the gospel ; and, believing the same truths, 
they will have unity of faith. Objects, viewed by twi- 
light, are seen indistinctly, and different individuals 
agree not respecting them. But, when the day has 
fully risen, all is made manifest and agreement follows 
of course. So, when, with respect to rehgious knowl- 



edge, " that which is perfect is come," then this partial 
union of rehgious behef will be done away. 

Another particular, in which the church is yet to be 
perfected, is holiness. That she has not yet attained, 
neither is already perfect, is obvious to others if not 
to herself. When contemplated as a body, she exhibits 
many imperfections. And if the members of which she 
is composed are examined individually, none are found 
without blemish. Let the thoughts, feelings, and 
actions of any one be impartially tried by the demands 
of either the law or the gospel, and he will be found 
wanting. And probably there are none acquainted with 
their own hearts, who cannot say, at least occasionally, 
" I see a law in my members warring against the law 
of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law 
of sin." 

But the church will not always be thus imperfect. 
It will at length come unto the measure of the stature 
of the fulness of Christ. This is his purpose respecting 
it. For he '' gave himself for it, that he might sanctify 
and cleanse it ; that he might present it to himself a 
glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such 
thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish." 
To this perfect degree of holiness the church of Christ 
will ultimately arrive. " We know that, when he shall 
appear, we shall be hke him ; for we shall see him as he 
is." 

At present the church is not complete as to its mem- 
bers. This is another particular in which it is yet to be 
perfected. When complete, the church will consist of 
individuals gathere'd from all the generations of men, 
which shall have lived from the beginning to the end 
of time. Some will be still alive when Christ shall 
come at the end of the world. "We shall not all sleep, 



but we shall be changed." '' We which are alive, and 
remain unto the coming of our Lord, shall not prevent 
them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall 
descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the 
archangel, and with the trump of God ; and the dead 
in Christ shall rise first. Then, we which are ahve 
and remain shall be caught up together with them in the 
clouds, to meet the Lord in the air." This shows that 
christians will be hving when Christ shall come at the 
close of time. Consequently, the church will not be 
complete, all its members will not be gathered in, till 
this period shall have arrived. Then it will be perfect. 
Then we all shall have come in the unity of the faith, 
and of the knowledge of the Son of God unto a perfect 
man. Then the body, having received all its members, 
will be complete. 

Thus it appears that the church is yet to be perfected 
in knowledge, holiness, and with respect to members. 
The process by which this perfection is to be attained 
is gradual. None, on becoming christians are at 
once made perfect. Nor, at any subsequent period, is 
their knowledge at once completed by special revelation 
made to them. Neither are any perfected in holiness 
by miraculous influence exerted upon them. But the 
attainment of both knowledge and holiness is progres- 
sive. " The path of the just is as the shining light 
which shineth more and more unto the perfect day." 
Christians " grow in grace and in the knowledge of the 
Lord." " They are to leave the principles of the doc- 
trine of Christ, and go on unto perfection." As one, 
during a course of years, grows up from infancy to 
manhood, so the church advances from lower to higher 
degrees of spiritual attainment. Each individual is 
making progress. All her members are in a course of 
transformation, and will become so fashioned and spirit- 



8 

ualized that, when the whole church shall come together 
in the future world, the body will be complete, harmo- 
nious, a glorious church. 

The church will then be perfect in knowledge. Not 
that she will know at once all she ever will know. She 
will doubtless continue to increase in knowledge during 
eternity. But, on arriving at heaven, her knowledge 
of spiritual things v/ill be complete, harmonious. She 
will not understand one part of the great scheme of 
redemption and be ignorant of another, but will have a 
comprehensive, correct view of all its parts, each being 
seen in its true light and regarded according to its real 
importance. 

The church will continue to advance in holiness 
during eternity. Still, on arriving at heaven, she will 
be perfect in holiness in the sense that she will be free 
from sin. Some of her exercises will not be holy and 
others sinful, but all will be holy, so that her holiness, 
though limited in degree, will be complete. There 
will be no alloy, no mixture of sin, no spot, no blemish. 
Towards this point the church is gradually advancing ; 
one member after another is coming in ; each is grow- 
ing in grace and in the knowledge of the Lord, and, 
ultimately, we shall all come in the unity of the faith, 
and of the knowledge of the Son of God unto a perfect 
man. 

But by what means is this happy result to be attained ? 
The truths of the gospel, received in faith and habitu- 
ally contemplated, are the means by which the church 
is to be perfected. For the way in which one becomes 
complete in knowledge, is by studying and meditating 
upon the truth in its- various parts and relations. In this 
way the plan of redem.ption becomes intelhgible, pnd 
is seen to be appropriate. The way too, in which one 
becomes complete in hoKness is, by obtaining adequate 



views of the gospel, receiving it in faith, and yielding 
to its full influence. The gospel thus received and 
applied by the holy spirit, produces correct intellectual 
views and right feelings of heart, or becomes effectual 
to sanctification. Agreeably, it v/as the prayer of Christ, 
" Sanctify them through thy truth." Now the means, 
which make the individual member complete in knov/- 
ledge and hohness, are those which render the whole 
body complete. And the means by which the church 
is to be perfected v/ith respect to members are the 
same. They are the truths of the gospel made effec- 
tual by the Holy Spirit. All that have been connected 
with the church hitherto have been gathered to it in 
this way. They were convinced of sin and converted 
by the truth attended with divine influence. They were 
*' begotten through the gospel." — " Saved by the wash- 
ing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost." 
These means will continue working effectually till the 
church, having received her members from the last 
generation of men that shall exist, shall be complete. 

But, to accomplish this result, there must be instru- 
mentality as well as means. This Christ has provided. 
'' When he ascended up on high, he led captivity cap- 
tive, and gave gifts unto men. And he gave some, 
apostles ; and some, prophets ; and some, evangelists ; 
and some, pastors and teachers ; for the perfecting 
of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the 
edifying of the body of Christ ; till we all come in 
the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the 
Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the m.easure of 
the stature of the fulness of Christ. This shows that 
Christ provided instrumentality expressly to effect the 
object we are contemplating — to bring the church to a 
state of perfection in point of knowledge, holiness and 
members. For he gave apostles, prophets, evangehsts, 



10 

teachers, for the perfecting of the saints^ for the work 
of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ. 
And this instrumentahty was designed to be permanent, 
to continue operating till the above object should be 
fully accomplished, till the church should be in all- 
respects complete, — till we all come in the unity of the 
faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God unto a 
perfect man. To accomphsh this object the above 
instrumentality is obviously necessary. In other words, 
the gospel ministry, thoroughly furnished by grace and 
by education, is necessary to perfect the church in the 
several particulars now considered. 

It is necessary to perfect the church in rehgious 
knowledge. The fact, that Christ instituted it for this 
purpose is evidence of its necessity. For, had it been 
needless, he, being infinite in wisdom, would not have 
instituted it. But we are not dependent upon inference, 
or faith merely for evidence of its necessity. This 
necessity is so obvious that we can see it. That the 
gospel ministry should be furnished by grace, holiness, 
experimental knowledge of the truth, none can doubt. 
For, if the bhnd lead the bhnd, all foresee the result. 
And that, in order to perfect the church in knowledge, 
the gospel ministry must be furnished by education, is 
scarcely less plain. For christians, on becoming such, 
are infants in spiritual knowledge, and are exhorted 
" as new-born babes, to desire the sincere milk of the 
word, that they may grow thereby." The word, the 
truth, the gospel, in all its parts and relations, its doc- 
trines and precepts, must come before their mind if they 
would grow in knowledge till they arrive at the stature 
of men. Now it is true that, by reading, meditation, 
personal research, all can make desirable attainments. 
But that, without rehgious instruction, christians will 
MOt continue advancing in knowledge so as to make 



11 

those high attainments which they should make, is quite 
evident. Observation makes it plain. It is now seen, 
and has ever been seen, that individuals and churches, 
who avail not themselves of competent religious instruc- 
tion, make but very little intellectual progress. They 
grow up to manhood with respect to age but remain 
children in knowledge. 

But competent rehgious instruction cannot be im- 
parted except by such as have first been thoroughly 
instructed. And here is a principle universally admitted 
in relation to all temporal pursuits. None can ade- 
quately teach the mechanic arts, agriculture, manufac- 
tures, literature, till they themselves have been taught. 
And is the knowledge of spiritual things — of things 
pertaining to the divine government, to eternity — 
things into which angels desire to look — so much more 
easily obtained that all may not only acquire it without 
effort, but adequately communicate it to others ? God, 
in his dealings with man has never proceeded upon this 
principle. For, when he made this promise to his 
people, " I w^ill take you one of a city and two of a 
family, and bring you to Zion," he further promised — 
" I will give you pastors according to mine heart, 
which shall feed you with knowledge and understand- 
ing." And when he would "turn the heart of the 
fathers to the children, and the heart of the children 
to their fathers," he sent " Elijah the prophet " to do it. 
When Christ ascended up on high, he left a ministry 
miraculously furnished for the edification of the church. 
And Paul, in his instructions to Timothy, as a religious 
teacher, says, " Meditate upon these things : give thy- 
self ^(;/io% to them^thdX thy profiting may appear to all." 
From all this it is plain that the gospel ministry, in 
order to feed the church with knowledge, must itself be 



to 



furnished with knowledge : plain too, that God designed 
it should be thus furnished. 

Besides, christians in general are very much on a 
level, as to their knowledge of the truths and doctrines 
of religion and of their various connexions, relations, 
bearings. One, therefore can receive little instruction 
from another. There may be mutual exhortation and 
encouragement given but little progress will be made 
in knowledge. If, therefore, instead of securing the 
services of a competent religious teacher, christians 
rely either upon one another or upon an illiterate min- 
istry for instruction, they may pass continually round 
through a limited circle of truths, but will not go on 
unto perfection. And christians will not remain satis- 
fied in these circumstances. For mind is progressive, 
expansive, and must have something to fill its growing 
capacities. Therefore, where they avail not themselves 
of an educated ministry, their interest in public religious 
services soon declines. No '^ scribe instructed unto the 
kingdom brings forth out of his treasure things neiv,^^ 
for the y/ant thereof the mind turns to the world for 
something to fill its '^aching void," and christians are 
at best stationary in their course. 

But this is not all. Without adequate religious 
instruction, christians are wanting in stability. They 
have not sufficient confidence in their rehgious belief, 
but are easily drawn away by what is neio or marvellous^ 
*' ever learning and never able to come to the knowl- 
edge of the truth." Now apostles speak of "contin- 
uing in the faith grounded and settled," and pray for 
christians that " God would make them perfect, stablish, 
strengthen, settle them." It was for this, in fact, that 
Christ instituted the Gospel ministry. He gave apostles 
pastors, teachers, " for the work of the ministry, for 



13 

the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come 
in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the 
Son of God, unto a perfect man. That we henceforth 
be no more children, tossed to and fro and carried about 
with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and 
and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to 
deceive." It is obvious that, in establishing a thor- 
oughly furnished ministry to prevent these evils, Christ 
wisely consulted the wants of the church. For chris- 
tians, well instructed in the doctrines of the gospel, are 
comparatively immoveable. They have confidence in 
their belief, are conscious of having an intelligible, sure 
foundation, and can ^' give a reason of the hope that is 
in them." They can distinguish between truth and 
error, reality and delusion, and therefore remain firm in 
times of trial, when others are " like waves of the sea, 
driven with the winds and tossed." Besides, the church 
needs the defence of a thorouglily furnished ministry. 
For depraved, educated mind is arrayed against her, 
aiming at her destruction, and must be met by mind 
sanctified, educated, having clear intellectual percep- 
tions of truth, and knowing experimentally its appropri- 
ateness and power. 

The gospel ministry, thoroughly furnished by grace 
and by education, is necessary to perfect the church in 
holiness. For she is to be sanctified through the truth : 
— the truths of the gospel made effectual by the Holy 
Spirit. Agreeably, christians are said to "have purified 
their souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit." 
But, if the church is to be perfected in holiness by 
means of the truth, then must she come to the know- 
ledge of the truth. The doctrines of the gospel must 
be presented to her mind in their fulness, at proper 
seasons, in just order, in suitable degrees, and in a clear 
light, so that, truth shall be made to act upon the mind 



14 

and heart appropriately. — The whole system of revealed 
truth — not merely some parts of it — for it is all 
designed to aid in and is essential to the perfecting of 
the saints. They are to " grow in grace and in the 
knowledge of the Lord," and cannot make progress in 
the one and not in the other. The end, which is 
hohness, cannot be attained without the means, which 
are knowledge, truth. It is only when the ivhole field 
of revealed truth is laid open to the view of christians 
that they have just perceptions of what is required of 
them, and of the motives which excite to holy obedi- 
ence. It is under the influence of these adequate^ vivid 
impressions of the gospel, that they go on unto perfec- 
tion. It is while " with open face beholding as in a 
glass the glory of the Lord, that they are changed into 
the same image from glory to glory." 

But who that is not thoroughly furnished for the 
work, is able to make such exhibitions of the truth ? 
Who, that doth not both know the truth experimentally 
and make the study of it his chief employ ? Even 
Paul, with his fervent spirit, his accomplished education, 
and his miraculous gifts, exclaims, in view of the res- 
ponsible, arduous undertaking, "Who is sufficient for 
these things." 

The gospel ministry, thoroughly furnished, is also 
necessary to perfect the church with respect to mem- 
bers. For the church is to be composed of individuals 
gathered from all the generations of men that have 
lived and shall live, and the instrumentality, employed 
in advancing it to its present state, is that which shall 
be employed in gathering in its remaining members. 
None other has been provided ; nor will any other be 
provided. For, when Christ commissioned his apostles 
to go and preach the gospel to every creature, he insti- 
tuted a ministry v/hich he designed should continue 



15 

till redemption should be complete. Accordingly, he 
said to them, " Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the 
end of the world." This assurance implies that Christ 
intended his apostles should have successors in the min- 
istry, qualified for their work, with whom he would be, 
and by whose instrumentality he would gather in his 
people from age to age till the close of time. This 
succession in the ministry he has furnished and contin- 
ued up to the present period. It is the chief human 
agency by which he has been gathering and edifying 
the church : and he will continue it till the church shall 
be complete, till we all come in the unity of the faith, 
and of the knowledge of the Son of God unto a perfect 
man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of 
Christ. 

From what has now been said it follows that, in sus- 
taining a pious, educated ministry, the church exercises 
wisdom. For she is yet imperfect and needs to advance 
in spiritual attainments. This is essential to her enjoy- 
ment, her usefulness, her complete preparation for 
heaven. For, unless she make all the progress in 
knowledge and hoHness of which she is capable, she 
can neither enjoy all which it is her privilege to enjoy, 
nor exert in favor of the world's salvation all the influ- 
ence it is her duty to exert ; nor can she enter into the 
kingdom of God under as favorable circumstances as 
she might. For, in his kingdom there will be degrees 
of glory corresponding with present hohness and use- 
fulness. " For one star differeth from another star in 
glory. So also is the resurrection of the dead." " They 
that turn many to righteousness shall shine as the stars 
for ever and ever." But the ministry thoroughly fur- 
nished, is a principal means by which the church is to 
be advanced in spiritual attainments. It was instituted 
for this purpose ; and the condition of those christians 



16 

who enjoy it, compared with that of others, shows its 
importance. For their progress is actually greater. 
They have ascended higher in the path which shineth 
more and more ; have more enlarged views ; more 
extended prospects ; a more stable, consistent piety ; 
a more intelhgible, satisfactory ground of hope. All 
their circumstances, temporal and spiritual, show that 
the maintenance of an adequate ministry is not vain. 

But all the benefits resulting from the ministry are 
not, at present, realized. For this is the instrumentality 
by which the church is to be sustained and piety trans- 
mitted from generation to generation, so that instead of 
the fathers shall be their children through all coming 
ages till the church, having received all her members, 
shall be complete. Therefore it is not fruitless to sus- 
tain a thoroughly furnished ministry. I know there are 
those who assert the contrary. — Those who decry the 
ministry as a departure from christian simphcity, an 
invention of man, a combination for selfish purposes, 
an engine of oppression, an obstacle to reform, a hind- 
rance to the advancement of Christ's kingdom. But 
this is nothing new. It is only a repetition of what has 
been. As, in the natural world, there are bodies which 
periodically appear, blaze a while, and pass away ; so, 
from the commencement of Christianity, there have been 
associated errorists, bodies, which, moving in quite 
eccentric orbits, have periodically appeared in the moral 
heavens, aiming, by their own excess of brightness, to 
eclipse and cast into perpetual shade that steady light 
which, through every age has been shedding upon the 
world its benign radiance. And they have had influ- 
ence : — have attracted notice. The m.ultitude has 
gone out to gaze. But while they were in the attitude 
of expectation, anticipating marvellous light, these self- 
illuminated bodies, more like meteors than like comets, 



17 

have passed away, leaving them in darkness more gross 
and disastrous than before. And now, in their disap- 
pointment and gloom, they have turned to the perma- 
nent institutions of Christ, to the organized church 
sustaining a pious, educated ministry; — to this divinely 
constituted and divinely styled " hght of the world" they 
have turned, convinced that, under God, it is the only 
sufficient medium of intelhgence and salvation for lost, 
benighted man. 

Experience has shown that to sustain the ministry of 
reconcihation is not vain. And experience will yet 
show it; — the experience of coming generations; — 
the united, joyful experience of " the general assembly 
and church of the first born" complete in glory ; — they, 
sitting upon the heavenly hills and reviewing all the 
way in which they were led through the scenes of time, 
will remember v/ith dehght, and everlasting gratitude, 
that it pleased God " by the foolishness of preaching to 
save them that believed." 

It follows from this discourse that to be a minister of 
the gospel is a privilege and an honor. Not that it 
secures either Vv^orldly treasure, distinction or applause ; 
nor because it is a post of ease. On the contrary, 
the faithful minister of Christ must endure self-denial, 
bear the world's neglect, submit to trials and discour- 
agements, and labor on till worn out with care and 
service. Still he enjoys a high privilege ; for he is ' 
producing effects happy and lasting. He is employed 
in perfecting the church of Christ ; and as he sees it 
advancing in knov/ledge, holiness, joy, and increasing 
by the addition of such as shall be saved ; as he sees 
member after member brought to maturity and gathered 
to their rest as shocks of corn in their season, and, in 
thought, follows them along the ages of a blessed immor- 



18 

tality — as he contemplates these happy, enduring effects 
of his labors, he enjoys a satisfaction unknown to the 
world and would not exchange conditions with the most 
distinguished of earth's favorites. 

Nor is the ministry of reconciliation merely a privi- 
lege. It is an honor. The faithful minister is a 
" worker together " with Christ and God : and, to be 
associated with God in accomplishing any of his works 
of benevolence, however small, is an honor. But 
the gospel ministry is an instrumentality which God 
is employing for the accomplishment of his noblest 
work. By it he is edifying and will perfect the church ; 
is carrying forward and will complete the work of 
redemption. This is a vvork of unrivalled importance 
and grandeur ; for it deeply involves the glory of God. 
It occupied his mind from eternity, and is the great 
object in subserviency to which, the world was made, 
and to which all the distinguished events of time have 
referred. It is the object for which " God was manifest 
in the flesh," the cross endured, angels sent forth as 
ministering spirits.- — The object for which "all nature 
stands, and stars their courses move." In short, it is 
Jehovah's greatest work, that upon which he relies for 
the fullest, most illustrious display of his glory. " To 
the intent that now unto the principalities and powers 
in heavenly places might be known by the church the 
manifold wisdom of God." The church, " delivered 
from the power of darkness, and translated into the 
kingdom of his dear son," will be an object of unrivalled 
interest, and will stand eternally as a monument illus- 
trating the " exceeding greatness of his power, and the 
exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness towards us 
through Christ Jesus." And when this great work, this 
spiritual building, shall have been perfected ; when the 
top stone shall have been laid with shouting, and it 



19 

stands complete, the admiration of the universe, will it 
be no honor to have been instrumental in fitting and 
polishing even one of the hvely stones of which it will 
be composed ? 

My Dear Brother, yours are the privilege and the 
honor of bearing a part in the accomplishment of this 
glorious work : — a privilege, an honor, to which angels 
aspire. And if, amidst the arduous labors before you, 
and the scenes of trial and discouragement through 
which you will be called to pass, you should be inclined 
to despondency, let the thought, that you are a worker 
together with God in accomplishing the object nearest 
his heart; an object, which is, and ultimately will 
appear to be, the greatest, most benevolent, glorious, 
that ever occupied even the divine mind ; — let this 
thought sustain, cheer, animate you. Consider " that 
the suiferings of this present time are not worthy to be 
compared with the glory Avhich shall be revealed in us." 
Think of " the recompense of the reward." And may 
such be your fidehty and success that this reward shall 
be great ; — such that you shall at length " shine as the 
brightness of the firmament, and as the stars for ever 
and ever." 



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PreservationTechnologies 

A WORLD LEADER IN PAPER PRESERVATION 

1 1 1 Thomson Park Drive 
Cranberry Township, PA 16066 
(724)779-2111 



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